Editing Franz Abt (section)

==Music==
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| filename    = When the Swallows Homeward Fly by Franz Abt.ogg
| title       = When the Swallows Homeward Fly by Franz Abt
| description = When the Swallows Homeward Fly by Franz Abt
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Abt's compositions comprise more than 600 [[opus number]]s which make up over 3,000 individual items. He was primarily a composer of vocal music and was particularly prolific in writing music for [[Men's chorus|male choir]]s which he thought was lacking in sufficient literature. Indeed, his greatest successes in Germany and Switzerland were obtained in part-songs for men's voices. Abt was also successful in writing choral music for mixed choruses both [[a cappella]] and with either piano or [[orchestra]]l accompianement. He also wrote numerous popular vocal art songs for solo voice, part songs for multiple voices, and several songs for children.<ref name="Grove"/>
 
[[File:Braunschweig Brunswick Abt-Denkmal 1960 (2006).jpg|thumb|right|Franz Wilhelm Abt monument from 1960 in Braunschweig]]

Abt's compositional style betrays an easy fluency of invention, couched in pleasing popular forms, but without pretence to depth or individuality. Many of his songs, were at one time universally sung, and have obtained a more or less permanent place in the popular repertory. Several were translated into English by [[Helen Tretbar]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Category:Tretbar, Helen D. – IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download|url=https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Tretbar,_Helen_D.|access-date=6 June 2021|website=imslp.org}}</ref> Due to their simple and melodic style some of Abt's songs, such as ''Wenn die Schwalben heimwärts ziehn'' and ''Die stille Wasserrose'' are easily mistaken for genuine [[folksong]].<ref name="Grove"/>

Abt's other compositions include three [[operas]]: ''Des Königs Scharfschütz'', ''Die Hauptprobe'', and ''Reisebekanntschaften''. In the early part of his life Abt composed much for the piano, chiefly pieces of light salon character. These have never had the same popularity as his vocal works.<ref name="Grove"/>